The Government has launched a national programme to connect young people who have successfully completed drug rehabilitation with more than 400,000 permanent private sector job vacancies.
Industry and Entrepreneurship Development Minister Sunil Handunnetti said the initiative aims to train and recruit rehabilitated youth into sectors facing labour shortages, including construction, tiles, footwear, leather goods and the automobile industry.
The Minister said the programme seeks to fill existing vacancies with Sri Lankan workers instead of relying on foreign labour, by providing rehabilitated youth with structured vocational training and employment opportunities.
The initiative will be implemented jointly with the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board, the Bureau of Rehabilitation, the Tertiary and Vocational Education and Training sector, and the Ministry of Industries.
Officials from the Ministry of Industries, the Bureau of Rehabilitation and the National Dangerous Drugs Control Board participated in the programme’s launch. (Newswire)